Thickness gauge assembly for cementitious coatings when applied to structural elements



9 m m & p m. 2% w I M W w R 00 F Wu March 1, 1955 W R THICKNESS GAUGE AssEM'B Filed May 28 1951 WHEN APPLIED TO STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS nvr/Elwog. kVa/fer AZ M00000 1' March 1, 1955 Filed May 28, 1951 DSON 2 702,932

R- WOO v THICKNESS GAUGE ASSEMBLY FOR CEMENTITIOUS COATINGS WHEN APPLIED TO STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN Y.

United States Patent THICKNESS GAUGE ASSEMBLY FOR CEMENTI- TIOUS COATINGS WHEN APPLIED T0 STRUC- TURAL ELEMENTS Walter R. Woodson, Kansas City, Kans., assignor to Gunite Concrete and Construction Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application May 28, 1951, Serial No. 228,616

6 Claims. (Cl. 25131.5)

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use as an aid in the application of cementitious substances to various structures such as building elements and has for its primary object, the provision of a thickness gauge assembly capable when placed in use, of eliminating entirely the burdensome task of attaching expensive, cumbersome and bulky forms and the like to the structural element preparatory to application of the covering material.

It is quite common practice today, both in the construction of new buildings and in the repair of old structures to fireproof the metallic beams, girders and the like forming a part thereof.

One of the most practical methods of providing for such fireproofing is to apply cementitious substances thereto under pressure through the medium of a suitable spray gun or nozzle. Means must however, be provided for holding the coating in place and for aiding the operator in gauging the thickness thereof and heretofore such means has been time-consuming, expensive and not entirely satisfactory from the standpoint of sturdiness and appearance.

It is the most important object of the present invention therefore, to provide as an article of manufacture, a novel clip adapted for receiving furring or guide strips, the clip itself constituting an elongated strap having a plurality of lateral projections on the ends thereof, certain of such projections being bendable for looping over the structural element to which the clip is attached and the remaining projections being pointed for receiving the furring strips by embedding the same therewithin.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a clip that includes an elongated strap having the furring strip projections thereon, together with ofiset extensions that are capable of holding the clip against lateral displacement when bent into a loop around the structural element to which the clips are applied.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clip that has a pair of opposed, pointed furring strip projec-tions that are disposed at a proper angle with respect to the faces of the strap portion thereof for presenting neat appearing corners in the finished structure and for suitably guiding the operator in proper thickness in the cementitious material applied to the beam or girder.

Other objects include the way in which the novel clip assembly hereof is adapted for use in gauging the thickness of cementitious material when the same is applied completely around a structural element; the way in which the clip is adaptable for use in repairing structural elements when but one face thereof is in need of recovering; the way in which the clips make it possible for removal of the furring strips after setting of the cementitious material; and the way in which the projection of the clip that receives the furring strips are easily and quickly removed by virtue of a line of weakness or scoring that is formed therein automatically during manufacture of the clip.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a structural element showing the thickness gauge assembly hereof, together with the various stages of application of a cementitious coating to the structural element.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1III of Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the furring clip per se.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through one of the fur- "become laterally a layer of paper or like ring strips illustrating a portion of one edge of the clip as the same appears in place on the structural element.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line VV of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a previously coated structural element in need of repair on one face thereof.

"Fig. 7 is an enlarged, perspective view showing the manner of application of the assembly hereof to the structural element of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 6 showing the structural element after the same has been repaired.

The thickness gauge assembly of the present invention has its primary novelty in the particular clip that is employed and illustrated most clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings and its form and construction will, therefore be first described.

Clip 10 is prefer-ably made from a suitable, relatively rigid, yet bendable metallic material and includes an elongated, flat strap 12 having a pair of lateral projections or wings 14 that extend at an angle from one face of the strap '12 and a pair of lateral projections or ears 16 that extend at an angle from the opposite face of the strap 12. In forming the clip 10 and particularly the projections 14 and 16 thereof, it is but necessary to slit the ends of the strap 12 a predetermined distance and thereupon bend the wings 14 at right angles to one face of the strap 12 presenting a generally U-shaped formation.

The particular rangularity between the Wings 414 and the strap 12 is of little significance since, as will hereinafter appear, the wings 1-4 are subsequently bent when applied to a structural element. It is important however, that the wings 14 be on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the strap 12 to the end that the clip 10 will not displaced on the structural element when mounted thereon. The angularity of the ears 1-6 is however, important and to this end it isto be preferred that the ears 16 be disposed Within a plane bisecting the angle between strap 12 and the corresponding wing 14. Thus the angle between each ear 16 and the proximal face of strap 12 is substantially degrees. Accordingly, there is, a wing 14 and an car 16 at each end respectively of the strap 12 and by virtue of the offsetting of wings 14, the ears 16 are likewise in offset relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of the strap 12.

Further, by virtue of the angularity of the ears 16, they diverge as the outermost free ends thereof are approached. Such ends are shaped to present a triangular- 'shaped point 18 that is scored as at 20 along its base to present a line of weakness. The width of the base of the points 18 is less than the over-all width of the ears 1 6 presenting therefore, a pair of opposed shoulders 22.

One use of a plurality of clips 10 is shown in Figs. -1 and 2 of the drawings in connection with an H-beam 24 to be covered in its entirety with cementitious material 26 but as will hereinafter appear, the assembly hereof may well be utilized with structural elements differing in crosssectional contour from that of beam 24.

As a first step in the preparation of the beam 24 for receiving the cementitious coating 26, a wrapping 28 is placed thereon, which in the present instance, constitutes material 30 having a metallic mesh '32 secured thereto. Clips 10 are thereupon placed upon the beam 24 in overlying relationship to the covering 28, serving therefore, to additionally hold such covering 28 in place on the beam 24. The clips 10 are merely placed on the mesh 32 with the strap portion 12 lying flatly thereagainst and through use of a pair of pliers or other simple tool, the loop as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing and in engagement with the inner surfaces of the H beam 24. The paper covering 30 may be easily punctured for receiving the wings 14 and when the latter are gripped in place, the entire clip 10 cannot become displaced, particularly since the wings 14 are offset as above indicated. The extent to which the clip 10 is initially slit to present the projections 14 and 16, depends upon the size of the beam 24 and accordingly may be varied to suit various conditions of use.

A plurality of spaced-apart clips 10 are placed upon opposrte faces of the beam 24 as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the wings 14 are bent in the form of a drawings and the ears 16 are thereupon used to mount four vertical furring or guiding strips 34. The guide strips 34 are triangular-shaped in cross-section as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 and are merely tapped in place on the pointed ends 18 of the ears 16 until the same engage the shoulders 22 thereof. With the tips 18 fully embedded within the furring strips 34 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, such strips 34 are held in place during application of the coating 26. Strips 34 therefore, serve as guides to determine the thickness of the material 26 applied to the mesh 32 and such thickness of course, may be varied by the shortening or lengthening of the cars 16. Upon setting of the material 26, the furring strips 34 may be easily pulled from place presenting neat corners 36 in the finished structure and after removal of the strips 34, the points 18 may all be easily and quickly removed by bending the same along the line of weakness 20. Except for these tips or points 18 therefore, the entire clip is embedded within the cementitious material 26 and aid in holding the latter bonded to the beam 24. Furring strips 34 may thereupon be reused for subsequent operations.

Another of the many applications of the novel furring clip hereof is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive of the drawings and in Fig. 6 there is illustrated a somewhat aggravating problem when one face 50 of a structural element 52 is in need of repair because of dislodgment of cementitious material 54 initially applied to render the beam 52 fireproof. In making the necessary repairs additional material 54 is chipped away as at 56 and a layer 58 of material such as above described in connection with the covering 28, is applied directly to the face 50 of the structural element 52. The clips 10 are thereupon mounted in place on the element '52 in the same manner as above set forth by bending the lateral projections '14 in the form of a loop within the notches 56. Here again, the clips 10 are spaced along the element 52 and serve the secondary function of holding the reinforcing material 58 in place.

A pair of furring strips 60 are thereupon taped in place on the pointed ends 18 of ears 16 against the shoulders 22 thereof and cementitious material 62 is applied in any suitable manner such as through use of a force gun as above indicated. Furring strips 60 serve as guides to determine the thickness of the coatings 62 whereupon, after setting thereof, strips 60 are removed and the tips 18 removed to present the finished structure illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Many additional applications and uses of the assembly hereof may well be illustrated and described, but it is believed apparent to those skilled in the art that the novel clip 10 hereof can be used to an advantage wherever a thickness gauge is needed in the application of cementitious coatings for fireproofing structural elements or for other uses.

Accordingly, it is not desired to be limited to the illustrated uses hereof and such additional applications as may fairly come within the spirit of this invention are manifestly contemplated hereby.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a clip adapted for mounting on a structural element to be coated with a cementitious material and to receive furring strips to gauge the thickness of said material comprising an elongated strap having a pointed car at each end thereof respectively and extending outwardly from one face thereof, and a projection at each end thereof respectively and extending outwardly from the opposite face thereof.

2. As an article of manufacture, a clip adapted for mounting on a structural element to be coated with a cementitious material and to receive furring strips to gauge the thickness of said material comprising an elongated strap of bendable material having an integral, pointed ear at each end thereof respectively and extending outwardly from one face thereof, and an integral projection at each end thereof respectively and extending outwardly from the opposite face thereof.

3. As an article of manufacture, a clip adapted for mounting on a structural element to be coated with a cementitious material and to receive furring strips to gauge the thickness of said material comprising an elongated strap having an ear and a projection at each end thereof respectively, said projections each extending at right angles from one face of the strap, said ears each extending at an angle from the opposite face of the strap within a plane bisecting said angle between the proximal projection and the strap, the outermost free end of the ears being pointed and having a shoulder intermediate the ends thereof.

4. A thickness guide assembly for applying cementitious material to a structural element, said assembly comprising a plurality of spaced clips adapted to be mounted 011 said element, each clip including a strap on one face of said element and a projection on each end respectively of the strap and looped over the opposite face of said element when the clip is mounted on the element, there being an outwardly extending ear on each end respectively of the strap of each clip respectively; and a pair of spaced, elongated furring strips mounted on the ears of the straps with said ears partially embedded therein.

5. A thickness guide assembly for applying cementitious material to a structural element, said assembly comprising a plurality of spaced clips adapted to be mounted on opposite sides of said element, each clip including a strap on the proximal face of said element and a projection on each end respectively of the strap and looped over a portion of said element when the clip is mounted on the element, there being an outwardly extending ear on each end respectively of the strap of each clip respectively; and four elongated furring strips mounted on the ears of the straps with said ears partially embedded therein, there being a furring strip at each corner respectively of said element.

6. An assembly for gauging the thickness of cementitious material to be applied to at least three faces of a structural element having a web and a pair of opposed flanges, said assembly comprising a plurality of clips each including an elongated strap having a pair of opposed wings adapted for looping around the flanges to hold the clips spaced-apart on said element throughout the length of the latter, each strap being provided with a pair of opposed ears diverging outwardly from the strap and diagonally with respect to said element; and a pair of elongated, wood, gauging strips secured to the ears, each strip being triangular in cross-section presenting a surface facing said element, and a pair of relatively perpendicular, outermost faces, said ears being partially embedded in said surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 644,913 Himmel'wright Mar. 6, 1900 662,871 Kilpatrick Nov. 27, 1900 966,274 Wainwright et al Aug. 2, 1910 1,277,612 Leonard Sept. 3, '1918 1,557,717 McWilliams Oct. 20, 1925 1,596,170 Forester Aug. 17, 1926 1,658,758 Bitney Feb. 7, 1928 1,715,497 Forester June 4, 1929 1,721,685 Bosco July 23, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS 217,959 Germany Jan. 18, 1910 

